Two Rosaveal seafood companies will receive eighty thousand euro in grant aid from Europe, as part of an initiative that will create more than one hundred and forty jobs nationally.

323 thousand will be spent on quality updates at the seafood processing plants, Iasc Mara Teo, and Breizon Ltd in Connemara.

Iasc Mara Teo will spend 310 thousand euro on plant improvements, with grant aid of 77 thousand coming from Euope under the Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme.

The plant modernisation will create at least four new seasonal jobs at the company that currently employs 35 people.

Managing director Cathal Groonell, said the major spend would keep those jobs safe, and could lead to future growth.

However, he said growth in the seafood industry is limited by supply concerns.

He welcomed recent news from Europe, that fish quotas will not now be privatised, but said more needs to be done to insure adequate supply.

He said the replenishment of herring stocks on the west coast could be a major money-spinner for the state.